Purpose

The EPA's Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Grants are intended to mitigate conditions in disadvantaged communities that contribute to increased concentrations of lead in drinking water.  Successful applicants propose lead reduction projects in these communities that impact one of two National Priority Areas (NPAs):

NPA 1:  Drinking water systems with lead action level exceedance (within the last 3 years); or

NPA 2:  Drinking water systems in schools or childcare facilities; 

(Note:  A disadvantaged community is defined by Section 1452(d)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act as, “The service area of a public water system that meets affordability criteria established... by the state in which the public water system is located.”  More information can be found in the state’s "Intended Use Plan," or by contacting the state Drinking Water Revolving Fund program.)

Eligible Entities

Eligible applicants under this competition include the following:

• Municipalities, States, and Interstate or Intermunicipal Agencies
• Qualified Nonprofit Organizations servicing a public water system
• Community water systems
• Water systems located in an area governed by an Indian Tribe
• Non-transient non-community water systems

Consistent with 2 CFR § 200.1, the term nonprofit organization means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that is operated mainly for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purpose in the public interest, is not organized primarily for profit, and uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operation of the organization. (Note that 2 CFR 200.1 specifically excludes Institutions of Higher Education from the definition of non-profit organization because they are separately defined in the regulation.)

Eligible Activities

NPA 1, Reduction of Lead Exposure in the Nation’s Drinking Water Systems through Full Lead Service Line Replacement and Treatment Improvements

Examples of eligible lead reduction activities to support NPA 1 may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Replacing lead service lines (including goosenecks, pigtails and/or other lead components) and/or partial lead service line remnants of previous partial replacement efforts, including publicly-, privately-, and jointly-owned service lines.
• Replacing galvanized pipes downstream of a lead service line.
• Improving corrosion control to reduce lead in drinking water through installation or reoptimization of corrosion control treatment.
• If the project includes lead service line replacement, developing and maintaining the drinking water system’s service line inventory to accurately track existing lead service lines and replacements of full or partial lead service lines. Inventories may also include lead pigtails and/or lead goosenecks.
• As a part of the project funded under this grant, conducting risk mitigation and remediation follow-up, public education, and related outreach (such as provision of ANSI accredited point-of-use filters), and training to implement pipe flushing recommendations (to minimize customer and resident lead exposure for up to six months following replacement.)

NPA 2, Reducing Children’s Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Childcare Facilities

Examples of eligible lead reduction activities to support this NPA may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Removing or replacing drinking water fixtures, fountains, or outlets determined to be sources of lead in schools and/or childcare facilities’ drinking water.
• Replacing plumbing materials determined to be sources of lead in schools and/or childcare facilities’ drinking water, including full replacement of lead service lines serving such facilities.
• Conducting follow-up, public education, and outreach to ensure the long-term performance of the remediation.
• Providing filters certified to remove lead, in accordance with the applicable standards established by ANSI or NSF post full lead remediations, along with no less than three months of replacement cartridges, notifying the schools and/or childcare facilities of premise flushing instructions within 24 hours of the conclusion, and post-remediation lead testing(s).

The EPA also encourages applicants to propose other types of activities that may achieve the objectives of this NPA.

Award

The total estimated amount of federal funding available under this announcement is approximately $20,000,000 and $15,000,000 for NPAs 1 and 2, respectively, depending on EPA funding levels, the quality of applications received, agency priorities, and other applicable considerations.

Estimate Amount, NPA 1:  $5,000,000 to no more than $10,000,000 (2 to 4 grants), depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project;

Estimate Amount, NPA 2:  $2,000,000 to no more than $5,000,000 (3 to 5 grants), depending on the amount requested and the overall size and scope of the project.

Project Periods, NPAs 1 and 2: up to four years.

Important Dates

November 13, 2024, 11:59 pm, Eastern Time:  Deadline to submit questions via email to Agency Contact at WIINDrinkingWaterGrants@epa.gov;

December 30, 2024, 11:59 pm, Eastern Time:  Deadline to submit application.

Next Steps

To read the full Notice of Funding Opportunity, go to Grants.gov and search for Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-OW-OGWDW-24-03 or Assistance Listing: 66.443.

The EPA states that answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) will be posted on its EPA’s Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Grant: Reducing Lead in Drinking Water website.

Submit questions to WIINDrinkingWaterGrants@epa.gov prior to the November 13, 2024, deadline. The EPA recommends interested applicants refer to the FAQs webpage prior to submitting a question.

Application packages must be submitted electronically to the EPA through Grants.gov no later than 11:59 pm, Eastern Time, December 30, 2024, in order to be considered for funding.